No Purchase Necessary Game System

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine system that allows a potential player to view the outcome of an upcoming game before playing it and before spending money on said outcome, and a method of using the same. The gaming machine system comprises a gaming machine configured to display a game and a view of the game. The gaming machine is further configured to initiate the view of the game upon selective communication by the user therewith. The game play starts then finishes with one or more irrevocable final results for view and selection. The view window shows the outcome of the next play before money is spent. The player can view each and every result before spending money. The player can then select and spend money on one of the results that he considers most favorable. The player spends money on a result that is already known to him.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent ApplicationSerial No. 61/572,161 filed Aug. 25, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains generally to a gaming machine system thatpermits a user to determine the outcome of a game prior to playing, andmore particularly to a gaming machine configured to display the outcomeof an upcoming game before the user is required to spend any money toplay the game and a method of using the same.

BACKGROUND

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines, and thelike, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for many years.Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent onthe likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machineand the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to otheravailable gaming options. Where the available gaming options include anumber of competing machines, players are more likely to be attracted tothe machines that have the highest expectation of winning. Therefore,there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers tocontinuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements thatwill attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to theplayer.

Gaming enhancements that provide entertainment value to the playerinclude offering new and different ways of achieving winning outcomesbased on player interaction with the game. Such new and different waysof achieving winning outcomes attract players and may further enhanceplayer loyalty, and would thus help gaming establishments attractfurther business. It is therefore desirable to develop different ways toallow players to achieve winning outcomes, (i.e., viewing game results).Players benefit by gaining knowledge of the results for a gamingmachine.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summaryis not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof,comprises a gaming machine system that allows a potential player to viewthe finish of a game without playing it and, more particularly, withoutspending any money, and a method of using the same. The gaming machinesystem comprises a gaming machine configured to display the results ofthe current game and view the results of the following game before it isplayed. The gaming machine is further configured to initiate the view ofthe game upon selective communication by the user therewith. The gamingmachine is a device capable of allowing a player to play a game, anddispensing rewards, monetary or otherwise, as appropriate, and to viewthe results of the upcoming game before spending any money or playingsaid upcoming game. By allowing the player to view the outcome of theupcoming game before it is played or before money is spent, the gamingmachine owners have arguably removed the element of chance and,therefore, will not be in violation of the statutes of many states whichprohibit gambling.

Furthermore in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gameplay actually starts then finishes with one or more irrevocable finalresults for view and selection. A view window shows what the outcome ofa next play will be for each amount spent before the money is actuallyspent. More specifically, the player can view each and every resultbefore actually spending any money, thereby eliminating the element ofchance. The player can then select and spend money on one of the resultsthat he considers most favorable. In other words, the player spendsmoney on a result that is already known to him. If the player selectsone of the results, the result is the same as previously presented tothe player. If the player does not want to accept the known outcome, theplayer can press a button and get the remaining credits or refundprinted to a voucher without any charge for playing the viewed upcominggame.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects are described herein in connection with thefollowing description and the annexed drawings. These aspects areindicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed hereincan be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended tobe within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages andnovel features will become apparent from the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a gaming machine system inaccordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a gaming machine system inaccordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart disclosing a method of playing a gamingmachine system in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsare used to refer to like elements throughout. In the followingdescription, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It maybe evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced withoutthese specific details. In other instances, well known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate adescription thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of theclaimed subject matter.

Potential users or players of gaming machines are often given a choiceof games such as slot machines, video poker, keno, blackjack, and manyother games of skill and/or chance. Presented with a multitude ofunfamiliar games, players often play only a select few favorites, orsimply do not play any at all. This situation is exacerbated by the factthat most games require money or some other form of consideration toplay. The process of the present invention is designed for electronic ormechanical video games to allow a potential player to view the finish ofa game without playing it and without spending any money, therebyeliminating the element of chance, and avoiding the typical definitionof gambling as adopted by many states.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a gamingmachine system 100. The gaming machine system 100 comprises a gamingmachine 102 configured to display a game display 104 and a view of anoutcome of an upcoming game 110 on a preview display 106. The gamingmachine 102 is further configured to initiate the view of the upcominggame upon a selective communication by the user therewith. The gamingmachine 102 can be any suitable electronic or mechanical video game asis known in the art without affecting the overall concept of theinvention. The gaming machine 102 is a device capable of allowing aplayer to play a game and dispensing rewards, monetary or otherwise, asappropriate. The gaming machine 102 can be a stand-alone unit capable ofoperating play on its own or, the gaming machine 102 can be utilizedwithin a system that has a plurality of networked gaming machines (notshown).

Additionally, lottery tickets or lottery pull-tabs can also be utilizedwith the technology of the present invention. The lottery tickets orlottery pull-tabs (not shown) can be displayed through a window (i.e., apull-tab dispenser), and the player can see the outcome before it isdispensed, and/or the outcome of events can be pre-printed on theticket.

Typically, the preview display 106 and a value of the game display 108showing a prize amount are created by adding a new software packagedirectly into the existing software in the gaming machine 102. The newsoftware package may be programmed or otherwise embedded into a readablestorage medium on a printed circuit mother board, which is thenconnected to an existing display monitor, a harness for control buttons,and any other necessary game components. The new software package isthen accessed by a software code to initiate a game once the gamingmachine 102 is powered up. After the insertion of the preview display106 software into the existing software program, the game operator willhave the option to display the preview display 106 as a small, previewwindow that shows the next outcome, or the operator can have a button(not shown) that the player may push and view the outcome of theupcoming game 110.

The new software package may comprise the following instructions:generation of an on screen display that comprises a title, a set ofinstructions, and a payout table; reception of a player's commandsthrough existing hardware; accessing a database of predeterminedgraphics and symbols to create the preview display 106; using a randomnumber generating algorithm to produce a result for each level of gameplay which are saved in a game memory storage medium to be revealed uponactivation by the user, whereby the game display 104 will change to showthe selected result for each level of game play; initiation of the gameupon selection of the selected level of game play and displaying theselected result, whereby a number of points corresponding to a pay outtable are awarded; and tracking and recording game play data andaccounting such as credits in and credits out.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical example of the invention where the gamingmachine 102 is a three reel slot machine. However, the scope of theinvention is not limited to the slot game context. Rather, variousembodiments of the invention can be used to illustrate view play of anygame capable of being played on a game machine. For example, the gamingmachine 102 may be configured to play games comprising: slots, videopoker, keno, black jack, and the like.

In existing games of chance, the player has to spend money prior to thestart of a game play. The player has no prior knowledge of the result ofthe game play. Only one, irrevocable final result will be presented tothe player after the money has been spent. No matter how the finalresult of a game play is generated, the player is chancing his moneyagainst a result that is not known to him beforehand.

In the presently claimed gaming machine system 100, the game playactually starts then finishes with one or more irrevocable final resultsfor view and selection. The preview display 106 shows what the outcomeof the next play will be before the money is spent. The player maytherefore view each and every result before spending money. The playercan then select and spend money based on one of the results that heconsiders most favorable. The player also can spend money on a resultthat is already known to him. In the gaming machine system 100, eachgame play generates one or more irrevocable final results for view andselection. After the player has selected and spent money on one of theresults, a visible process, such a spinning of reels or turning ofcards, ending in the exact same result is presented to the player on thegame display 104. If the player does not want to accept the knownoutcome, they can press a button (not shown) and get the remainingcredits or refund printed to a voucher without any charge for playing.

Additionally, the invention is not limited to displaying only one resultper game play. Unlike existing gaming machines which only generate oneresult per game play, the gaming machine system 100 generates aplurality of levels of play 112 per game play. Typically, four or morelevels of play 112 are configured by game styles and designs. However,the plurality of levels of play 112 may comprise one or more results andstill be considered within the scope of the invention.

Illustrated in FIG. 3, is an exemplary method 200 for allowing apotential player to view an outcome of an upcoming game prior tospending consideration. The method will be described with respect toFIGS. 1 and 2. Referring now to FIG. 3, to operate the gaming machinesystem 100, at step 202, a player walks up to a gaming machine 102configured to view the outcome of a plurality of levels of play 112 forthe upcoming game. The player then inserts consideration (money) intothe gaming machine at step 204 as a deposit should the player decide toparticipate in the game. At step 206, on the preview display 106, theplayer is presented with a view of random multiple choices generated ina one-by-one sequence independent of previously generated results as tothe plurality of levels of play 112 they would be interested inobtaining. The player decides whether or not to play at step 208, andthen selects any or none of the plurality of levels 112 to play. Once achoice is selected, the player is able to view the final conclusion ofthe game on the game display 104 as if the player actually played thegame without having to play it at all.

After inspecting all the outcomes for the plurality of levels 112, theplayer knows the complete consequences and destiny of the finish of eachgame choice. The player then, armed with this complete knowledge of thefinished game, must choose if they wish to participate or not. Shouldthe player choose to participate, consideration (money) is deducted fromthe deposit at step 210 and the player then selects the level of play atstep 212 thereby participating in the game at step 214. If the playerchooses not to participate they can select that choice at step 218 andreceive a 100% refund o f their deposit back to them with no purchasenecessary. The process starts over again as the player determines atstep 218 whether or not to play again. If not, the method ends at step220.

The exemplary method 200 comprises a software that uses a pseudo-randomnumber generator to determine a number or a plurality of numbers for usein determining a final reel position, or equivalent final resultposition depending on the game type, for the gaming machine 102 prior tothe player purchasing the upcoming game. The results of the final reelposition are generated on the preview display 106 which shows theresults of the plurality of levels of play 112 for the upcoming game. Assuch, the player may then determine whether or not to play based ofviewing the final reel position on the preview display 106.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus,while the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof isshown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to beconstrued as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joinedtogether, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of rangesof values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method ofreferring individually to each separate value falling within the range,unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value isincorporated into the specification as if it were individually recitedherein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitableorder unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitationon the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language inthe specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variationsof those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventorexpects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, andthe inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes allmodifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in theclaims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, anycombination of the above-described elements in all possible variationsthereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicatedherein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A method for allowing a potential player to view an outcome of anupcoming game prior to spending consideration to play the upcoming game,the method comprising: locating a gaming machine configured to view theoutcome of a plurality of levels of play for the upcoming game; placinga monetary deposit in the gaming machine; viewing the outcome for theplurality of levels of play for the upcoming game; and determiningwhether or not to play the upcoming game based on viewing the outcome.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine comprises anelectronic gaming machine or a mechanical gaming machine.
 3. The methodof claim 1, further comprising selecting which of the plurality oflevels of play to purchase if deciding to play the upcoming game.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising authorizing a deduction from themonetary deposit corresponding to the selected levels of play.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, further comprising obtaining a refund of the monetarydeposit if none of the plurality of levels of play were selected.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the plurality of levels of play comprise atleast three levels of play.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of levels of play comprise between three and five levels ofplay.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising viewing the resultsof the upcoming game on a preview display.
 9. The method of claim 1,further comprising generating the outcome in a one-by-one sequenceindependent of previously generated results.
 10. A software-implementedmethod for allowing a potential player of a gaming machine to view anoutcome of an upcoming game prior to spending consideration to play theupcoming game, the software-implemented method comprising: using apseudo-random number generator to determine a number or a plurality ofnumbers for use in determining a final reel position for the gamingmachine prior to purchasing the upcoming game; displaying the results ofthe final reel position on a preview display, wherein the final reelposition illustrates a plurality of levels of play for the upcominggame: and determining whether or not to play the upcoming game based onviewing the final reel position.
 11. The software-implemented method ofclaim 10, wherein the pseudo-random number generator is customizable fora plurality of gaming machines.
 12. The software-implemented method ofclaim 10, wherein the gaming machine comprises a plurality of networkedgaming machines.
 13. The software-implemented method of claim 10,further comprising generating the outcome in a one-by-one sequencewithout cross-reference to already generated results.
 14. Thesoftware-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising refundingthe consideration if the potential player opts not to play the upcominggame.
 15. A gaming machine system for allowing a potential player toview an outcome of an upcoming game having a plurality of levels of playbefore spending consideration to play the upcoming game; the gamingmachine system comprising: a gaming machine programmed to display a viewof the outcome of the plurality of levels of play and a value of thegame display for the upcoming game.
 16. The gaming machine system ofclaim 15, wherein the gaming machine is configured to play gamescomprising at least one of the following games: slots, video poker,keno, or black jack.
 17. The gaming machine system of claim 15, whereinthe gaming machine system is a single gaming machine.
 18. The gamingmachine system of claim 15, wherein the gaming machine system is anetwork of a plurality of gaming machines.
 19. The gaming machine systemof claim 15, wherein the upcoming game comprises a lottery ticket or alottery pull-tab game.
 20. The gaming machine system of claim 15,wherein the plurality of levels of play comprise at least four levels ofplay.